Unemployment benefit Netherlands 2026: who qualifies for WW, how long it lasts and how much you get
Lost your job in the Netherlands? What WW pays in 2026, for how long, when to apply, and how a settlement or dismissal affects it.
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Figures from UWV and Rijksoverheid · Checked 28 September 2026
Short answer
Unemployment benefit (WW) in the Netherlands pays 75% of your WW monthly wage for the first 2 months and 70% after that, on a daily wage capped at €309.91 gross from 1 July 2026 (UWV). You qualify if you worked at least 26 of the 36 weeks before you became unemployed and did not lose your job through your own fault. WW lasts 3 to 24 months. Apply through Mijn UWV no later than 1 week after your first day of unemployment.
Key facts for 2026
- 26 of 36 weeks worked before unemployment is the main condition.
- 75% of your WW monthly wage for the first 2 months, then 70%.
- €309.91 gross is the maximum daily wage from 1 July 2026.
- 3 to 24 months is how long WW lasts.
- 1 week after your first day of unemployment is the latest to apply.
- 3 months of WW while you look for work elsewhere in the EU/EEA or Switzerland.
This is general information about Dutch law, not legal advice for your situation. Rules change; figures are for 2026. No rights can be derived from this text.
Who qualifies
Who qualifies for WW unemployment benefit?
You qualify for WW if you worked at least 26 of the 36 weeks before you became unemployed, lost at least 5 working hours a week and are available for work (UWV). This is the wekeneis (weeks requirement). If your fixed-term contract ends and is not renewed, you can apply for WW, but refusing a renewal offer can cost you the benefit.
- Insured: employees below state pension age are covered. You are not covered if you live in the Netherlands illegally (Rijksoverheid).
- Under 10 hours a week? Then you must lose at least half your hours (UWV).
- Not counted: weeks as self-employed, and weeks already used for an earlier benefit.
- Not your own fault: after resigning yourself, you get WW only in exceptional cases.
Duration
How long does WW last?
WW lasts at least 3 months and at most 24 months, depending on your total work history (Rijksoverheid). You get more than 3 months if you also worked at least 4 full years out of the last 5.
| Your work history | How long WW lasts |
|---|---|
| 26 of the last 36 weeks | 3 months |
| Also 4 of the last 5 years | 1 month per year of work history, up to 10 years |
| Years above 10, worked until 2015 | 1 month extra per year |
| Years above 10, worked after 2016 | 0.5 month extra per year |
| Maximum | 24 months |
Sources: UWV and Rijksoverheid, checked 28 September 2026.
- Private extension: a collective labour agreement (cao) can extend WW to a maximum of 38 months; you pay the premium for this yourself (Rijksoverheid).
Amount
How much is WW in 2026?
For the first 2 months you get 75% of your WW monthly wage, and 70% after that (UWV). UWV works out your daily wage (dagloon) from your pay in the 12 months before you became unemployed (Rijksoverheid) and multiplies it by 21.75, the average number of working days in a month.
“Generally, for the first 2 months of unemployment, you will receive 75% of what we call your ‘average monthly unemployment benefit income’ (‘WW-maandloon’). After 2 months, you will receive 70%.”
UWV, About the unemployment benefit, checked 28 September 2026
- Maximum: from 1 July 2026 UWV uses a maximum daily wage of €309.91 gross, holiday pay included (UWV).
- Gross, not net: UWV deducts wage tax; try our Dutch tax calculator.
- Working on WW: 70% of what you earn is deducted and you keep 30%. Earn more than 87.5% of your WW monthly wage for 2 months in a row and WW stops (UWV).
Apply
How and when do you apply for WW?
Apply through Mijn UWV no later than 1 week after your first day of unemployment; the earliest is 1 week before that day (UWV).
- Collect your papers before you leave: last payslip, employment contract and bank account number (UWV).
- Log in to Mijn UWV with a DigiD or a recognised European eID and fill in the WW application form.
- Get the decision within 4 weeks of your first day of unemployment. Then report your earnings every month; UWV pays within 14 days (UWV).
WW starts after your notice period. With no notice or too little, UWV counts the notice period you should have had, with no WW for that time (UWV). See our notice period guide.
Obligations
What must you do while you receive WW?
You must report your earnings to UWV every month, even if you earned nothing, and report any change in your situation within 1 week (UWV).
- Look for work: meet the job search requirement and accept jobs that match your skills.
- Holidays: up to 20 days a calendar year; tell UWV at least 1 day before you go.
How your job ended
Do you keep WW after a settlement agreement or a dismissal?
A settlement agreement keeps your WW only if it says your employer proposed the dismissal and you did nothing wrong; you then have 2 weeks to change your mind (UWV). In Dutch this is a vaststellingsovereenkomst (settlement agreement).
- What it should say: your employer started the dismissal and why, no gross misconduct, you are not ill, and the contract ends by mutual consent. No 2-week withdrawal clause? Then you get 3 weeks.
- Ill? Do not agree to a dismissal if you have been ill for less than 2 years: you will not qualify for WW.
- Summary dismissal: your pay stops at once and UWV investigates whether you were to blame. If you were, you are verwijtbaar werkloos (culpably unemployed) and get no WW (UWV). See our instant dismissal guide.
- Probation: dismissed? Apply with a letter from your employer saying you did nothing wrong. Resigned? You probably get no WW (UWV).
Next: what to do after a dismissal, our settlement agreement guide and how to challenge a dismissal in time.
Dismissed, offered a settlement or refused WW? Talk to an employment lawyer
Need help with this? We match you with an English-speaking Dutch employment lawyer. Most clients are introduced to a lawyer within one business day. Lawyer fees are paid to the firm and explained before you proceed.
Residence permit
What happens to your residence permit if you lose your job?
On a highly skilled migrant permit you have up to 3 months to find a new job, or up to 6 months if you have had the permit for 2 years or longer (IND).
- Timing: the search period starts the day your contract ends and cannot run past your permit’s end date. A new employer must notify the IND within 4 weeks.
- No new employer in time? The IND may revoke your permit.
- WW and other permits: this IND publication does not cover them, so check with the IND. See our guide for dismissed highly skilled migrants.
Abroad
Can you take WW abroad?
You can look for work in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland for up to 3 months while keeping WW, if you meet the conditions (UWV).
- PD U2 form: apply for it first, then register with the benefit organisation in that country.
- Anywhere else: ask UWV before you move.
Keep reading
Related guides
More guides on losing your job in the Netherlands.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How long do I need to have worked in the Netherlands to get WW?
At least 26 of the 36 weeks before you became unemployed. The weeks can be with different employers, and weeks worked as self-employed do not count. Meeting this rule gives you 3 months of WW; a longer work history gives you more, up to 24 months.
How much is unemployment benefit in the Netherlands in 2026?
75% of your WW monthly wage for the first 2 months, then 70%. UWV bases the WW monthly wage on what you earned in the 12 months before you became unemployed, and caps the daily wage at €309.91 gross from 1 July 2026. UWV deducts wage tax.
How long does unemployment benefit last in the Netherlands?
At least 3 months and at most 24 months. If you worked at least 4 of the last 5 years, you get 1 month for every year of work history. Above 10 years, each year worked after 2016 adds half a month. A collective agreement can extend it privately to 38 months.
Do I get WW if I resign or sign a settlement agreement?
If you resign, you get WW only in exceptional cases. With a settlement agreement you can keep WW if it says your employer proposed the dismissal and you did nothing wrong. It should also respect your notice period, because WW starts only after the notice period you should have had.
How soon after losing my job must I apply for WW?
No later than 1 week after your first day of unemployment, through Mijn UWV. The earliest is 1 week before that day. You need a DigiD or a recognised European eID, your last payslip and your employment contract. UWV decides within 4 weeks of your first day of unemployment.
What happens to my highly skilled migrant permit if I lose my job?
The IND gives you up to 3 months to find a new job, or up to 6 months if you have had the permit for 2 years or longer. It starts the day your contract ends and cannot run past your permit’s end date. Without a new employer in time, the IND may revoke your permit.
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Official sources, checked 28 September 2026
- UWV: about the unemployment benefit
- UWV: applying for an unemployment benefit
- UWV: receiving an unemployment benefit
- UWV: how much WW you get (in Dutch)
- UWV: maximum daily wage 2026 (in Dutch)
- UWV: WW after dismissal by your employer (in Dutch)
- UWV: if you agree to your dismissal or redundancy
- UWV: involuntary termination
- UWV: if you resign yourself (in Dutch)
- Rijksoverheid: when do I have a right to WW? (in Dutch)
- Rijksoverheid: how long do I get WW? (in Dutch)
- Rijksoverheid: how is my WW calculated? (in Dutch)
- IND: residence permit for work as a highly skilled migrant (PDF)
Final notes and legal disclaimer
- This article provides general information and is not tailored to your personal circumstances.
- It does not cover all situations, exceptions, or recent legal changes.
- Reading this article does not create a lawyer-client relationship with findlawyer.nl or any associated entity.
- This information may be incomplete, inaccurate or out of date.
- No rights can be derived from this article.
- For decisions about your wage or employment contract, or your specific situation, always consult a qualified professional.
FindLawyer is a lawyer-matching and case-preparation service. Legal advice comes from the independent lawyer.